KITTLEMAN VS. BALL REMATCH: Allan Kittleman would love to be Howard County executive again. So would current County Executive Calvin Ball. To achieve Republican Kittleman’s ambition he must defeat the same Democrat who thwarted his hope for a second term four years ago. Surprisingly, without any polling data to support his dim view of Ball’s tenure, Kittleman got into the race last year and has spent much of the time trying to persuade the populace that Ball has done a crummy job. It’s a bit of a role switch for the typically mild-mannered and sunny Kittleman, a libertarian conservative who tends to look on the bright side of things. Len Lazarick/The Business Monthly in MarylandReporter.com
DONATIONS FROM DEVELOPERS IN ANNE ARUNDEL EXEC RACE: As candidates submitted campaign finance information this week, Republican county executive candidate Jessica Haire criticized Steuart Pittman for accepting donations from developers and helping with a tax break, after she was berated by Pittman and community organizations for accepting tens of thousands of dollars from a Silver Spring developer and its employees. Dana Munro/Capital Gazette
MOORE CAMPAIGN RELYING ON OUT OF STATE DONORS: Wes Moore’s campaign is continuing the trend of Maryland Democrats relying on out of state funds to get elected, with Moore having raised more money from out of state than Dan Cox in the most recent campaign finance reports. Moore/Miller received over 41% of their total receipts from outside the state, while Cox/Schifanelli raised less than 10% of their total dollars from outside Maryland. Brian Griffiths/The Duckpin
MELISSA ETHERIDGE TO SING FOR MIZEUR: Candidate Heather Mizeur, a Democrat who doesn’t accept contributions from corporate political action committees, is again counting on an old friend — singer Melissa Etheridge — to help her keep pace financially with U.S. Rep. Andy Harris in their race to represent Maryland’s 1st Congressional District. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun
QUESTIONS EMERGE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF STATE CENTER UNDER CITY OWNERSHIP: Stakeholders greeted the news that Maryland officials plan to hand off the State Center complex for redevelopment with skepticism, questions, and hope as they brought attention to the high costs of demolition, dashed past planning and lack of a clear path forward. Emily Opilo/Baltimore Sun
BALTIMORE MAGAZINE ‘BEST OF BALTIMORE’ PARTY BEING INVESTIGATED FOR ILLNESS OUTBREAK: Health officials are investigating a potential illness outbreak reported by people who attended the Best of Baltimore Party on Aug. 18 at the American Visionary Art Museum. The Baltimore magazine event included samples of food from some of the winners of the Best in Baltimore contest, as well as dancing and drinks. Cassidy Jensen and Christine Condon/Baltimore Sun
- In the investigation, health officials sent out a second health survey today in the wake of Baltimore magazine’s “Best of Baltimore” party that sickened some attendees – listing the Atlas Restaurant Group establishments left out of the first survey. Fern Shen/Baltimore Brew
FREDERICK EXAMINES RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IN SCHOOLS POLICY AFTER SUPREME COURT RULING: The Frederick County Board of Education is weighing tweaks to its policy on religious expression in the wake of a Supreme Court decision that backed a high school football coach who knelt and prayed on the 50-yard line after games. Jillian Atelsek/Frederick News-Post
VOTE COMING TO LIFT CAP ON BALT. CO. COUNCIL PENSIONS: A long-standing cap on Baltimore County Council members’ pensions could be lifted under legislation set for a vote Tuesday. Alison Knezevich/Baltimore Sun
COMMENTARY: PAYING OFF STUDENT LOANS HELPS, NOT HATES, OUR NEIGHBORS: A tweet goes viral reminding that Americans have long paid for services they don’t use: “Black Americans paid taxes during segregation for pools they weren’t allowed to swim in, fountains they couldn’t drink from and buses they had to ride in the back of. So…miss me with this “Why am I paying for school I didn’t go to?’ At least this is about uplift, not hate.” Leslie Gray Streeter/Baltimore Banner
BALTIMORE COUPLE ARRESTED FOR JAN. 6 RIOT: A Cherry Hill couple were arrested Tuesday on charges related to the U.S. Capitol riot Jan. 6, 2021, federal court records show. Cassidy Jensen/Baltimore Sun
Campaigns all take negative turns. Negative headline seems to be trying to show negativity where there is just the normal campaign rhetoric that comes with the territory. What do you want Kittleman to do? Campaign for Ball or campaign for himself? Get real!
Alan Kittleman is not being disingenuious, he’s running for office.